Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Pref., Aug. 14 (Jiji Press)—Japanese education software developer CAI Media Co. recently developed a bird-shaped robot for English learners to practice conversation, using artificial intelligence and "Internet of things" technologies.
Making use of a cloud service with massive data collected online, the robot Charpy can respond to learners in natural conversations based on t…(More)

Japan joined the artificial intelligence race late. It was not until the mid-1980s, three decades later than countries like the United States, that researchers began pondering the idea of thinking machines. Japanese companies and universities are now increasingly pouring resources into unlocking the secrets of deep learning. The country’s slow start and scarcity of AI experts, however, has hindered progress, as illustrated by the lack of breakthroughs to date.(More)

Publisher Kōdansha on February 22 announced its new weekly magazine based on Tezuka Osamu’s famous Astro Boy character to commemorate the ninetieth birthday of the manga legend. The entire 70-issue series will cost around ¥180,000, and each installment will come with a piece of an AI-equipped robot based on Tezuka’s mechanical superhero. When complete, the build-it-yourself Astro Boy will stan…(More)

Robotics developers have a dream: That one day their robot athletes will defeat the World Cup winners and be crowned as the best soccer team in the world. This year’s “RoboCup – Japan Open” pitted 73 teams of robots against one another for a place in the robot World Cup.(More)